Definition and Meaning:
Hazerim is a term found in the Old Testament, referring to settlements or villages. The word "Hazerim" is derived from the Hebrew word "חֲצֵרִים" (ḥaṣērîm), which means "villages" or "enclosures." It is used in the context of describing the dwelling places of certain ancient peoples.

Biblical References:
The primary reference to Hazerim is found in the Book of Deuteronomy. In Deuteronomy 2:23, the text mentions the Avvites who lived in villages as far as Gaza: "And the Avvites who lived in villages as far as Gaza—the Caphtorites, who came from Crete, destroyed them and settled in their place" . Here, "villages" is translated from the Hebrew "Hazerim," indicating the type of settlements where the Avvites resided.

Historical and Cultural Context:
Hazerim, as a term, reflects the ancient Near Eastern practice of living in small, fortified settlements or villages. These were often surrounded by walls or enclosures for protection against nomadic tribes and other potential threats. The mention of Hazerim in the context of the Avvites and Caphtorites suggests a period of transition and conquest, where one group displaced another, a common occurrence in the ancient world.

The Avvites, mentioned in Deuteronomy, were an ancient people who lived in the southern coastal region of Canaan. The Caphtorites, identified with the people from Crete, are believed to be related to the Philistines, who later became prominent in the same region. The displacement of the Avvites by the Caphtorites is indicative of the dynamic and often turbulent history of the ancient Near East, where migrations and conquests frequently reshaped the demographic landscape.

Theological Significance:
From a theological perspective, the mention of Hazerim in the Bible underscores the transient nature of human settlements and the sovereignty of God over the nations. The displacement of the Avvites by the Caphtorites can be seen as part of the divine orchestration of history, where God uses various peoples and events to fulfill His purposes. This aligns with the broader biblical theme of God's control over the rise and fall of nations, as seen throughout the Old Testament.

Archaeological Insights:
While specific archaeological evidence directly identifying Hazerim is limited, the concept of small, fortified villages is well-documented in the archaeological record of the ancient Near East. Excavations in regions such as the southern Levant have uncovered numerous sites that fit the description of Hazerim, providing insight into the lifestyle and defensive strategies of ancient peoples.

Conclusion:
Hazerim, as referenced in the Bible, offers a glimpse into the ancient world of small, fortified settlements and the shifting dynamics of ancient Near Eastern populations. It serves as a reminder of the historical and theological narratives that weave through the biblical text, illustrating the complex interplay between human actions and divine sovereignty.Hazerim

(villages). The Avim, or more accurately the Avvim, are said to have lived "in the villages (Authorized Version Hazerim?) as far as Gaza," (2:23) before their expulsion by the Caphtorim.

Hazerim

An ancient abode of the Avim, apparently in the northwestern part of Arabia Petraea, De 2:23.

Villages, probably the name of the temporary villages in which the nomad Avites resided (Deuteronomy 2:23). HAZERIM

ha-ze'-rim, haz'-er-im (chatserim): Is rendered in the King James Version (Deuteronomy 2:23) as the name of a place in the Southwest of Palestine, in which dwelt the Avvim, ancient inhabitants of the land. The word means "villages," and ought to be translated as in the Revised Version (British and American). The sentence means that the Avvim dwelt in villages-not in fortified towns-before the coming of the Caphtorim, the Philistines, who destroyed them.

2699. chatserim -- Hazerim
... chatserim. 2700 . Hazerim. Transliteration: chatserim Phonetic Spelling:
(khats-ay-reem') Short Definition: Hazerim. Word Origin masc. pl. of chatser, qv. ...
/hebrew/2699.htm - 5k

A Great Part of South Judea Cut Off under the Second Temple. ...
... It was anciently inhabited by the Avites,"namely, from Gaza to the river
of Egypt. "The Avims dwelt in Hazerim," Deuteronomy 2:23. ...
/.../lightfoot/from the talmud and hebraica/chapter 3 a great part.htm

Hazerim (1 Occurrence)
... 2:23). Int. Standard Bible Encyclopedia. HAZERIM. ha-ze ... destroyed them.
Multi-Version Concordance Hazerim (1 Occurrence). Deuteronomy 2 ...
/h/hazerim.htm - 7k

Avim (3 Occurrences)
... Easton's Bible Dictionary A people dwelling in Hazerim, or "the villages" or
"encampments" on the south-west corner of the sea-coast (Deuteronomy 2:23). ...
/a/avim.htm - 7k

Hazeroth (5 Occurrences)

/h/hazeroth.htm - 9k

Caphtorims (1 Occurrence)
... Deuteronomy 2:23 And the Avims which dwelt in Hazerim, even unto Azzah, the Caphtorims,
which came forth out of Caphtor, destroyed them, and dwelt in their ...
/c/caphtorims.htm - 6k

Avims (1 Occurrence)
... Deuteronomy 2:23 And the Avims which dwelt in Hazerim, even unto Azzah, the Caphtorims,
which came forth out of Caphtor, destroyed them, and dwelt in their ...
/a/avims.htm - 6k

Azzah (4 Occurrences)
... Deuteronomy 2:23 And the Avims which dwelt in Hazerim, even unto Azzah, the Caphtorims,
which came forth out of Caphtor, destroyed them, and dwelt in their ...
/a/azzah.htm - 8k

Hazer-hatticon (1 Occurrence)
Hazer-hatticon. Hazerhatticon, Hazer-hatticon. Hazerim . Int. ... (ASV DBY JPS NAS
RSV). Hazerhatticon, Hazer-hatticon. Hazerim . Reference Bible.
/h/hazer-hatticon.htm - 7k

Stead (117 Occurrences)
... Deuteronomy 2:23 And the Avims which dwelt in Hazerim, even unto Azzah, the Caphtorims,
which came forth out of Caphtor, destroyed them, and dwelt in their ...
/s/stead.htm - 38k

Dwelt (307 Occurrences)
... Deuteronomy 2:23 And the Avims which dwelt in Hazerim, even unto Azzah, the Caphtorims,
which came forth out of Caphtor, destroyed them, and dwelt in their ...
/d/dwelt.htm - 36k

Bible Concordance • Bible Dictionary • Bible Encyclopedia • Topical Bible • Bible Thesuarus